Outline

Objective

Facial nerve paresis and hearing loss are common complications following acoustic neuroma surgery. Clinical and experimental studies point to the benefit of vasoactive treatment for hearing and facial nerve function. A prospective and randomised study was therefore started in our department.

Methods

At present, 50 patients with the presence of “A-trains” waveform patterns, which are highly suggestive for a immediate postoperative facial nerve paresis, are integrated in this study. The patients underwent vasoactive treatment consisted of nimodipine and hydroxyethylstarch in a randomised way.

Results

Facial nerve function was graded clinically on the House and Brackmann scale preoperative, during the first ten postoperative days, after three months and after one year. Improvement of the facial nerve paresis after one year was better in the group with vasoactive treatment (n=25) than in the group without vasoactive therapy (n=25). It is patients with moderate, or severe, postoperative dysfunction that clearly benefit from vasoactive treatment.

Conclusions

The study points to the benefit of vasoactive treatment for facial nerve function following acoustic neuroma surgery, especially after one year. In future, every patient may receive vasoactive therapy following acoustic neuroma surgery.